Lecture 11:
Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

A new set of tools

Lecture
Week 11
Author

Dr. Gordon Wright

Published

January 8, 2024

Apologies for my absence

I apologise for my unexpected absence at the end of last term.

It was unavoidable, but I shall endeavour to repay your patience this year.

Week 11, Let’s go!

  • Cognitive Psychology Essay submission this week

    • Have you done your reading and prepared?

  • Final coursework - CHIP Learning Log

CHIP Learning Log

Designed to introduce you to:

  • Conceptual and Historical & Integrative issues in Psychology
  • Big picture stuff! Controversies and debates!

CHIP topics

Traditional topics are:

  • A history of Paradigms in Psychological Research
  • Psychology as a Science
  • Evolution
  • Consciousness

Surprise* hit last year

Inclusivity – 2 lectures from Dr Tegan Penton1

CHIP Assignment(s)

  • Coursework piece designed to allow you to engage reflexively with the ‘big picture’ of your degree

  • Think about how these issues link into psychology as a discipline, and how they relate to your own thoughts about what psychology is or should be

  • Two ‘reflective accounts’ of max 600 words each (Not including obligatory reference list)

  • Marks are awarded for reflection, evidence of learning and bring topics together. Please see marking criteria for both accounts.

  • Not looking for a restatement of the facts in the lectures etc.

  • They are designed to be personal and reflective – embrace this aspect!

Reflective Account 1

Essay 1 is based on the content of ONE of the topics and should adopt at least two of the following 6 ‘perspectives’.

  • As a STUDENT of psychology

  • As a TRAINEE psychologist

  • In relation to a RESEARCH application in your future

  • As an HISTORIAN of psychology

  • Reporting on the culture or PRACTICE of psychology as it currently exists here or across cultures

  • As a critic or supporter of psychology’s status as a SCIENCE

Reflective Account 1 tips

  • Ask a specific question – and answer it.
  • Intro, body, conclusion structure.
  • Reflect on the topic and give your own opinion as to the answer!
  • Present a journey in your learning or appreciation of the topic
  • Ensure your answer is argued using examples
  • Use evidence in your argument from a range of sources, ideally do some strategic wider reading
  • Present and reference it well

Reflective Account 2

Essay 2 should focus on at least one of the OTHER topics covered in the course.

  • This answer should focus on a primary reading and then any further reading you have done (strongly encouraged).
  • You must identify that primary reading explicitly in the essay itself.
  • You should not simply restate what the authors thought or found, but rather briefly summarise and build
  • Think about your perspective on the issues.
  • What do you think about this debate or issue? We want to know!
  • And what do you think are interesting directions for psychologists to take this debate or issue in the future?

Reflective Account 2 tips

  • Explicitly identify a single initial reading and build upon that.
  • Discuss a debate or issue that you think is interesting or important
  • Give your own opinion and how this has developed or changed as a result of the lecture, the course more widely, and/or the reading.
  • Argue your opinion explicitly, own it and back it up with examples
  • Use evidence in your argument from a range of sources, ideally do some strategic wider reading
  • Present and reference it well

Overlapping content

  • You can combine across different topics in Essay 2 (e.g., you could talk about Evolution and Consciousness, or Inclusivity and Science), and thinking about links between topics is strongly encouraged.
  • However, the material covered in Essay 2 must be different from Essay 1. Students will be penalised for covering identical topics.

Details

  • Due: Friday, 12 April 2024, 12:00 Noon - about 3 weeks after the end of term

  • n.b. Mini-Dissertation Due: Friday, 22 March 2024, 12:00 Noon

  • Both answers should be written in essay-style prose (e.g., with APA references where you refer to sources) put in a single document and submitted to the coursework submission page.

  • Max 600 words per answer (references not included in word count)

  • Remember that this only accounts for a smaller portion of the module grade (15%). Should hopefully be an enjoyable way to reflect on issues on the course you found interesting.

Essay 1

Essay 2

Any questions?

This term

Next term is essentially split into two halves:

Each week, we will focus on a key skill or procedure, supplying useful resources and guidance, but leaving the rest of the lab session for independent work, advice and support from your Lab Tutor, or anything else you think would be helpful!

  • Weeks 10 – 15 are geared towards data collection and data preparation

  • Weeks 16 – 20 are geared towards analysis, writing up, and preparing your submission 

Weeks 10 – 15 (alongside lectures & data collection)

  • In week 10 - Enrol everyone on the Study Swap system and mobilise for data collection
  • In week 11 - We begin the process of focusing on Writing & Analysis
  • In week 12 - We will be focusing on ‘Writing up your Method section’
  • In week 13 - We will be talking about ‘Planning your analysis’
  • In week 14 – A workshop on ‘Data Screening & Cleaning’
  • In week 15 – We will be showcasing your work to the 1st Years!

Remember.. Available on the VLE…

You can find these all on the VLE in the

‘Mini-Dissertation resources’ section of the VLE

  • An APA 7th Edition Mini-Dissertation template word document
  • An APA 7th Edition Reference Cheat Sheet
  • Extended Mini-Dissertation Marking Criteria
  • 2 x Example Mini-Dissertations

APA 7 Mini-Dissertation Template

Your Mini-Dissertations must conform to the correct format. Easy marks.

We use APA 7th Edition and in the style of a professional journal article manuscript submission.

  • The word document template features all the major stylistic formatting you will need, with some helpful pointers throughout.
  • When you write your Mini-Dissertation, you just need to delete all the tips and put in your wonderfully crafted prose and results!
  • A common mistake is to deviate from the APA formatting. Please try not to do this! It counts.

APA style will be the focus of Week 16.

APA 7 Reference Cheat Sheet

  • A key part of APA 7th Edition is reference format. We will also cover this briefly in week 16. 
  • We have already a number of other electronic resources that might help you ensure you follow the correct format, but in the first instance, this Cheat Sheet will be very handy.

Mini-Dissertation Extended Marking Criteria

Another resource we’ve given you today is an extended Mini-Dissertation Marking Criteria.

  • These are the criteria used by the markers and moderators to calibrate marks and ensure accuracy and consistency.
  • An abbreviated version will be attached to the feedback that you receive.
  • You will see that there are numerous categories, but each requires some consideration. Have a look over this when you get some time.
  • A screencast will be provided discussing this in more detail, overviewing submission requirements, and highlighting common pitfalls, and tips for the top!

Example Mini-Dissertations

Points to attend to:

  • 2,500 words is NOT as long as you think
  • 5 paragraphs (key points) in Intro and Discussion
  • Methods section wins marks!
  • Both examples achieved firsts, but marks were ‘left on the table’

Closing points on the Mini-Dissertation

  • The reflective account is a required part of the Mini-Dissertation
  • We may be asking for a ‘contribution statement’
  • Your involvement in data collection AND participation is monitored next term
  • Open Materials and Open Data are key parts of the submission and are featured in the marking
  • But it’s just a lab report. You’ve done 3 of those already.

Holding

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Kückelhaus, B. P., & Blickle, G. (2023). Trait Machiavellianism and Agentic Career Success: A Multi-Measure, Multi-Criteria, Multi-Source Analysis. Journal of Personality Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2023.2169927

and needs to drop in size

Any Questions?

References

Kückelhaus, B. P., & Blickle, G. (2023). Trait Machiavellianism and Agentic Career Success: A Multi-Measure, Multi-Criteria, Multi-Source Analysis. Journal of Personality Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2023.2169927

Kückelhaus, B. P., & Blickle, G. (2023). Trait Machiavellianism and Agentic Career Success: A Multi-Measure, Multi-Criteria, Multi-Source Analysis. Journal of Personality Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223891.2023.2169927

Footnotes

  1. Not really a surprise! ;-)↩︎

Reuse